Cap firing mobile toy



June 15, 1954 J. P. GOWLAND CAP FIRING MOBILE TOY Filed April 7, 1952 INVENTOR. JU/IN P/lV/(Nff GOWLA VD BY ATTO/P/VE Y Patented June 15, 1954 CAP FIRING MOBILE TOY John Pinkney Gowland,

asslgnor to Gowland &

Santa Barbara,

Gowland, Santa Barbara, Calif., a partnership Application April 7, 1952, Serial N 0. 281,006

1 Claim.

My invention relates to toys and has particular reference to a cap firing toy that is remotely controlled.

Noise making devices are extensively used in toys to add audible realism in addition to the mechanical and motor realism of the toy. These noise makers vary from simple clicking mechanisms to elaborate pneumatic and explosive devices.

My invention provides a mobile toy having a flexible cable attached which serves as means of moving the toy. Additionally, the same cable acts as a means for firing the cap mechanism which I employ as a noise making device. The sharp explosive crack of the cap firing mechanism is well suited to combat toys such as tanks, airplanes and bombs as well as more peaceful toys such as automobiles and motor cycles, etc., that may backfire. Additionally, my combination is adapted to capricious applications giving rise to comic toys.

It is therefore a general object of my invention to provide a mobile toy and noise maker combination.

A further object is to provide a cap firing mobile toy that is remotely operated.

Another object is to provide a mobile toy and cap firing mechanism employing a flexible cable for locomotion and cap firing.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent in the following description and claim considered together with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of an illustrative embodiment of my invention showing a remotely actuated cap firing mechanism attached to a toy automobile.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged bottom view of the assembly of Fig. 1 showing the construction of the cap firing mechanism; and

Fig. 3 is an elevation view of the invention as embodied in a toy combat tank.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 there is illustrated an amusement unit 5 in the form of an automobile including a frame portion 6, a body portion I, and wheels 8. Any suitable type of mobile toy could be substituted for the automobile of Fig. 1 and for this reason the automobile is referred to as an amusement unit. The amusement unit serves as the main item of attraction from a toy standpoint upon which may be mounted a cap firing mechanism 9 shown in broken outline. The amusement unit, therefore, serves to carry the cap firing mechanism and is preferably of such a character that noise may be associated u actuator for the Bowden cable movement of with it. In the trated a backfiring noise or similar explosion is popularly associated with this type of automobile and the cap firing noise simulates such backfiring noise.

The cap firing in Fig. 2 and may embody a base plate I I from which may project a center pin I2 and a semicircular guide l3. A spiral roll M of caps may be placed over the pin l2 and is restrained by the guide l3. The free end of the roll may be drawn over an anvil |6 against which a hammer |1 may strike. The caps are exploded when struck by the hammer, giving oiT their characteristic sharp report.

While any closed in Fig. 2. A lever formed centrally therein be slidingly pivoted on a the base plate A claw 2| may be pivoted on one end of the lever l8, as at 22. A tension spring 23 may be connected between one end of the claw 2| and a projecting pin 24 to resist the claw away from the pin 24. of the lever I8 may be connected |8 may have a slot |8a permitting the lever to The other end to a wire 26 sheath 27, the cable 28. The sheath 21 may have its actuating end secured to the base plate lugs 29 which may securely engage it. 1

The hammer I! may be mounted upon a pin- 3| and a wire spring 32 may have a loop disposed- One straight end of the wire I 1a of the hammer about the pin 3|. spring 32 may engage a head to urge it toward the anvil straight end may bear against a projecting lug 33.

In operating the cap firing mechanism of Fig. 2, the wire is pulled toward the left, causing thelever I8 to rotate counterclockwise on the pin l9. The lower end of lever l8 will contact a projecting foot llb of the hammer 1, causing the hammer to rotate clockwise against the force of wire spring 32. Immediately thereafter the projecting end of claw 2| will engage the caps l4 sliding the cap roll along anvil l6 to position a fresh cap portion under the hammer head Ila. Upon further rotation of lever IS, the entire lever slides on pin l9 because of slot |8a, releasing the hammer l1, permitting it to strike the caps and producing the report. The spring 23 will return the lever to its illustrated starting position when the tension on wire 26 is released.

Referring now to Fig. 1 there is illustrated an comprising a stacase of the old model car illus-,.

mechanism 9 is best illustratedsuitable cap firing mechanism may be employed, I presently prefer the structure dispin l9 projecting from.

which may slide within a flexiblev wire and sheath forming a Bowden H as by projecting l6, and the other,

tionary member 35 secured to the sheath 21, and a movable member 3'6 secured to the wire 26 and slidable on the member 35 by virtue of a slot 31 therein. The stationary member 35 may have a loop formed in its outer end into which the user may insert his thumb. The movable member 36 may be in the form of a disk or washer. In use, the thumb is'inserted in the loop, and the fingers of the same hand areplaced against the opposite side of the disk and the disk moved toward the loop. The spring 23 (Fig. 2) will resist this movement and restore the actuator to its starting position illustrated, when the manual force is removed.

Various materials of construction may be employed for my toy, and I have found that organic plastic moldings may be used commercially aim the amusement unit. The unit may be assembled in any desired manner from various moldings. I have found that the cap firing mechanism 9 is preferably formed of metal :and can advantageously be secured to the amusement unit by forming holes in the corner of the plate H" Plastic :pins lfl formed on the body may project through the holes when the plate is passed over the pins. If the pins iii are formed of :thermoplastic material, they may be heated and the projecting ends upset to retain the metal :plate and its attached mechanism in place. A plate of metal or organic plastic may be placed over the cap firing mechanism to retain the cap roll M in place and this plate preferably rotates in a plane parallel to base plate Ii. The Bowden cable 28 is preferably formed of metal and the actuating end of the sheath 2'! may be retained at the plate 1! by deforming projecting lugs to grip the sheath. The cableactuator members 35 and 36 may beformed of organic plastic material if desired. The Bowdencable is usedto provide locomotion for the amusement unit by pulling it, and -selectively, to actuate the cap firing mechanism.

Referring :now to Fig. 3 there is illustrated a modified form of my invention wherein the amusement unit is in the form of a combat tank toylfl having a cap firing mechanismAl mounted therein in any suitable fashion. The tank is preferably mobile either by means :of wheels -.or by means of revolving endless treads 4.2. 'The means for locomotion and cap firing may again be a Bowden cable 43 but the cable is attached to a rotatable gun turret 4'4 so that in :addition to acting as a pull for the toy, the cable :is also used to turn the turret and .gun in various directions :for firing. The cable may actuate .the cap firing mechanism as in Fig. '2, and the resultant noise together with .theaccompanying smoke may give a realistic effect. A part .of the 1tank,;f.or example the turret,'may be removablefor loading the mechanism, and if desired the cannon may be hollow to permit escape of the smoke.

The embodiments of the invention disclosed are merely illustrative of the invention and not definitive. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various other amusement units could be employed. For example, toy airplanes or guided missiles could .be used. Trucks, armored cars and other mobile units could be used in addition to tanks. Also, the invention may be applied to boats which may be moved about with the cable, and caps may be fired by the cabl to simulate gun fire or other boat activity.

The invention -is likewise applicable to comic toys. For example, a toy horse may be made mobile and if desired animated. The cap firing mechanism could be coordinated with a kicking action so that the cap will be fired at that time to give a comic effect. The invention is of general utility on a mobile amusement unit with which a-cap firing mechanism may be combined, the iBowden cable acting to propel the amusement unit, and also selectively to operate the cap firing mechanism. For this reason I claim all such embodiments as fall within :the true spirit and scope of my invention.

A :toy comprising: a mobile amusement unit; a repeating cap firing mechanism carried by the unit; a Bowden cable secured to the unit and pr-oyecti-ng therefrom a distance greater than the length of the unitand having a stationary but flexible sheath and a movable wire within the sheath, said wire connected on one .end to the cap firing mechanism; and an actuator remotely located from the unit on :the outer end of the Bowden cable for manually reciprocating the wire in the sheath to actuate the cap firing mechanism, said Bowden cable acting as a means (for 1 remotely moving the amusement unit in addition to actuating the cap firing mechanism.

References Gited :in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 954,031 Kellogg J Apr. 5, .1910 1,617,480 Fourcher 'Feb.'15, 1925? 1,808,015 Buchanan- Wollaston vJune .2 v.1931 2,259,629 Fisher Oct. 21, 1941 2,319,041 Crouse May '11, .1943 2,448,968 Franck 1. Sept. .7, 1948 2,552,288 Lee F May 8, .1951 I FOREIGN PATENTS Number "Country Date 486,412 Germany Nov. '19, I942 

